Friends remember slain 70-year-old Novato woman as 'humble,' 'giving'

Catherine "Kitty" Houghton was never one to flaunt her talents, and friends say she was a humble woman focused on community service.

"There's no reason a person of this goodness and service should be so brutally murdered," said Katherine Holcombe, a friend of the 70-year-old Novato woman who was stabbed to death Monday in a New Hampshire hotel lobby.

A 37-year-old man was arrested in what police described as a random attack. Authorities are searching for a motive and her friends are shocked by the murder.

Houghton was in New Hampshire serving as a trustee for her alma mater, the private White Mountain School in Bethlehem, when she was attacked at a Hampton Inn in Littleton, according to local prosecutors.

In Marin, Houghton was involved in a wide array of activities, from singing to piloting her plane on medical missions.

Before retiring, Houghton was a business counselor with the U.S. Foreign Service. She served in the Peace Corps in Nepal and worked as an international officer for Bank of America, according to a tribute piece by the White Mountain School.

"She was technically retired, but she didn't like that word," Amber Whitmill, a Vallejo resident who met Houghton through the Ninety-Nines and Angelflight. She said Houghton was active in charitable aviation activities.

Houghton was a first alto and board member for the Choral Singers Of Marin, a member and membership chairwoman for the Marin chapter of the Ninety-Nines — an international organization of women pilots — a board member of the Indian Valley Associates homeowners association, and a volunteer for Angelflight, which provides plane trips for people with medical needs.

Whitmill, remembers flying with Houghton to Yosemite to pick up two children for transport to a special deaf camp as part of the Angelflight program. She said Houghton, as the pilot, paid for everything, donating her time and fuel.

"She was never one to boast about herself," Whitmill said.

Holcombe, an Emeryville resident, agreed.

She said Houghton was a giving woman with a humble personality who didn't boast about accomplishments such as being fluent in six foreign languages.

Holcombe, also a pilot, sang alto with Houghton in the Choral Singers of Marin group. She said Houghton wasn't married and didn't have any children, but owned a dog that she adored and took flying.

She said Houghton's closest siblings are in Nevada.

Houghton's pilot and vocalist friends were dear to her heart.

Holcombe said she even hosted women pilots from Nepal at her home, supporting the Ninety-Nine's Nepal chapter. She said Houghton's friends were a big part of her life.

"Every year she held a huge party at her beautiful home in the Novato hills," Holcombe said. "We'd gather and sing Christmas carols."

Ron Witzel, Indian Valley Associates homeowners group member, said Houghton had been involved with the homeowners group for the past four to five years. He said she was a warm, educated woman who welcomed people into her home for meetings.

"She was a very dedicated individual. She was so friendly and warm to all of her friends and neighbors," Witzel said.

Jan Pedersen Schiff, Choral Singers Of Marin executive director, said Houghton had planned on visiting family in Reno after her trip to New Hampshire, followed by a ski trip in Truckee.

She said Houghton, who sang with the group for five years and was an avid supporter, will be sorely missed.

"She was very humble," Schiff said. "She was so giving. She just gave and gave."